Top activities to a week in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Darwin the capital of the Northern Territory.Top activities:
From the vibrant area known as the Darwin Waterfront, where the visitor finds a fun wave pool, the history of World War II to the tropical outdoor lifestyle, Darwin is the perfect setting for adventurers.
1 dia: Jumping Crocodile Cruise e Litchfield National Park.
2 dia: Praias de Darwin, Botanic Garden, Wave Lagoon e Mindil Beach
When visiting this little piece of Australia, treat your taste buds and indulge your sense of fun and adventure in the tropical capital of the Northern Territory. Darwin is world famous for its cuisine, colorful open-air markets and a variety of adventure activities
Recognized as the tropical capital of Australia, Darwin is on the shores of the Timor Sea and is closer to Bali than to Bondi.
Nature is truly part of Darwin’s backyard – the famous national parks of Kakadu and Litchfield are just a few hours’ drive away, and the Tiwi Islands are a short boat ride away
The choice to visit Darwin was made due to the beautiful low cost airline promotion we found. With tickets in hand we decided to explore the capital of Northern Territory (one of the states of Australia).
We did our weekend itinerary in two full day days (our return ticket was purchased for the end of Sunday night, so we made the most of both days).
# 1 day: Jumping Crocodile Cruise and Litchfield National Park
We left the hotel very early, which was located in the center of Darwin. We proceeded towards our first attraction of the day, the Jumping Crocodile Cruise . This was a highly anticipated attraction due to the fact that we would come across crocodiles in their natural habitat.
Hotel review: Palms City Resort
Good apartment structure with interesting infrastructure (swimming pool, hot tub, parking facilities and etc.) and at a very affordable price.
$ 310.50 (Australian dollars) for a 1 bedroom apartment (double and single). Value for 3 people for 3 nights (a couple and one more person).
It took us about 50 minutes to get to this attraction site and when we got there we went straight to the information desk to buy our ticket. The cost of the 1-hour tour is $ 45 Australian dollars per person.
At 9:00 am we left by boat on the Adelaide River, we covered some important points, and finally we saw Darwin’s famous crocodiles.
This is really a tour that needs to be done so that the tourist has a real sense of the grandeur of the local nature.
After the guided tour, and after having seen two huge crocodiles very close, we return to the starting point on the banks of the Adelaide River. Then we continue our route towards the second stop of this trip.
We drive to the famous Litchfield National Park . We travel the local roads for about an hour and a half, and then we arrive at the first stop inside this national park: Wangi Falls .
At this point, we stayed for about an hour and a half and took the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the park and the pleasant area of the waterfall.
At that moment, hunger was pressing and we looked for the local restaurant, however, as it was after 2 pm, we had to abort the lunch mission inside the park. We then decided to eat some things that we had bought at the supermarket in the morning and held our hunger.
We continue with our car to the second point of interest: Buley Rockhole .
The distances between the points are not great. From Wangi Waterfall to Buley Rockhole it takes approximately 25 minutes by car and between the last two points: Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls is 5 minutes.
This was the place I enjoyed the most within the park. There, the visitor finds small waterfalls that sculpt stones and rocks and create natural pools that give the final charm. Relax inside one of these pools and what makes this place a special piece of the park.
After visiting Buley Rockhole and getting to know a little more about the national park, we proceed to our last stop inside Litchfield, Florence Falls .
In this little piece we find a trail with little difficulty in access (some stairs) and a very interesting place for tourists to relax and enjoy the waterfall.
After accessing the trail from the parking lot, we find a pool of natural water, built by the fall of the waterfall, full of fish where tourists spend the day and enjoy nature.
We stayed there for approximately 1 hour and, after a beautiful relaxation, we continued on our way towards Darwin, for the return to the city and the hotel.
After exploring part of Litchfield National Park (some important and essential points), we travel a few more kilometers to the center of Darwin and choose a place for the well-deserved lunch / dinner of the day.
We chose a typical Australian restaurant, with different meats (including crocodile and kangaroo) and ended our day’s activities with a beautiful beer and a stuffed dish to enjoy.
Litchfield National Park
This 1,500 square kilometer park is an important area for the Koongurrukun, Marranuggu, Werat and Warray aboriginal peoples. Finniss’ exploration was the first European connection to the area and the park was named after Frederick Henry Litchfield, a member of the expedition. For 75 years until 1955, the area was the center of tin and copper mining. Then it fell under a lease until it was designated a national park in 1986.
The main attractions of Litchfield National Park are connected by a paved road (with stretches of dirt), but for some specific points it is necessary to drive with four-wheel drive (Lost City and the Reynolds River Trail).
The rockhole (holes in the rocks that become natural pools), the many scattered waterfalls and the pleasant trails make this park a favorite with residents and people visiting Darwin. Dining spots are available within the park, and you can spend the night in various places along the road, as the park offers campsites, huts or in the small villages of Batchelor and Adelaide River. ( source )
To find out the distances between the attractions within the park see this link .
# 2 day: Darwin Beaches, Botanic Garden, Wave Lagoon and Mindil Beach
For our second day in the capital of the Northern Territory, we reserve the city, its attractions and the surroundings.
It is important to remember that many specialized sites, including Darwin’s official, indicate more days to visit Litchfield, but since we only had one weekend, we only set aside one day for him. It was enough to know the most famous points.
Here is a tip for those who enjoy nature, trails and waterfalls, stay more days in this region. However, if the visitor does not have more days, just as it happened with us, visit the points that we indicate because it is already possible to have a great night at the park.
Returning to our second day tour focused on the city and its surroundings, we start with the following beaches: Casuarina Beach and Nightcliff Beach.
These two are further away from the center and have very peculiar characteristics. The first, Casuarina Beach , has a huge strip of sand (on the day we visited the tide was very low, we don’t know if it is always like this or if it was something specific for the day) and with very calm and turbid waters. Casuarina Beach is one of the most popular in Darwin, and it extends from Rapid Creek through Casuarina to Lee Point. To access it, just drive around 20 minutes towards the north of the city.
We stayed there for about 30 minutes and then we left for our second beach: Nightcliff Beach . This point in the city deserves a special mention. The beach is very beautiful and the whole area with a bike path is worth a visit and a walk.
We stopped the car in the parking lot in front of one of the points on this beach and continued on foot to the main pier. The walk is very pleasant and the scenery is equally beautiful. We stayed in the place for about an hour and a half and then we went on to the next points of interest of the day.
We went to East Point Reserve and there we found a very nice place with an interesting view of the city. We continue our tour and pass Lake Alexander , a lake that is within this same environment of East Point Reserve. We stopped, took some pictures and went on.
The next detail to be explored was the George Brown Botanic Garden . This Darwin botanical garden is a really beautiful and interesting place to visit in more detail and calm. In our case, we only stopped to see the initial details, took some pictures and continued the route.
At that point we were already making our way back to Darwin’s center. In the itinerary, we left the hotel (which was in the center of this city), went to the northern part and returned, stopping at the mentioned points.
Before we get to one of the highlights of the day, we still stop at the Survivors lookout , a place as much as dull but that has its history for the city, and then we continue to what would be the final destination, before sunset: Darwin Waterfront and Wave Lagoon .
At approximately 1 pm, we arrived at the Waterfront area, parked the car in a free car park (which is paid for during the week), and went on to buy the entrance to the Wave Lagoon (the value is $ 7 Australian per adult )).
After purchasing the tickets, we went to a restaurant by the pool to have lunch, enjoy a little afternoon and finally have a beer (even because no one is made of iron lol).
This technical stop was great because at that time of year in Darwin, the wet season (rainy season), during a certain part of the day it rains a lot (summer storms). But this cuve is the one that “hits hard” but does not stay long. And that is exactly what happened. At a certain point in our happy hour, the rain came, washed everything and then the sun came out again.
Darwin and his Stations:
The rainy season is from November to April. It is characterized by increased humidity, rain and monsoon storms. Temperatures typically range from 25ºC during the night to 33ºC during the day. The humidity can reach more than 80%.
At this time, magnificent storms occur every afternoon and the landscape comes alive with abundant rain. Some roads are flooded at this time of year, and there is also a risk of cyclones.
If you prefer blue skies, hot days and cold nights, the “dry season” is for you. This is between May and October.
While South Australia freezes during the winter, in the dry season, Darwin enjoys warm, sunny days and cool nights.
The average temperature varies from about 21ºC during the night to 32ºC during the day. It can reach 16ºC on some nights in June and July. Humidity levels are much lower in the dry season: around 60% to 65%.
In the dry season, Darwin is much more lively and has a calendar full of events and festivals, attracting visitors from near and far to make the most of outdoor parties.
It is also important to know that in the wet season, many parks close due to floods and with them the danger of encountering crocodiles in the streets. So stay tuned when purchasing your airline ticket.
We went very early in the wet season (first weekend in November), so tickets were cheaper, but we still managed to enjoy the parks and the local weather.
Before buying your ticket during the rainy season (November to April), find out through the parks website and the city’s official website about the conditions of the places and whether they are open for visitation. ( source )
See more information about Darwin’s climate at this link .
But as we are tourists everything was just fun and soon with the sun high in the sky again, we went to the pool and to enjoy the end of the day.
This is a very interesting point in the city and worth visiting. The waves are very intense and the fun is guaranteed.
After many waves, buoys and sun, we went to what would be our “grand finale”: Mindil Beach and its famous sunset.
This place in particular vibrates differently during the dry season (May and October), as it has a very interesting market that takes place there, the Mindil Beach Sunset Market , but as we visited the city in early November we were unable to take advantage of it.
Even without the famous market, we managed to see the sunset and we enjoyed the end of the day in a very special vibe. We stayed at the place for about an hour and a half and closed our weekend tour in the capita of the Northern Territory.
Finally, we went to the hotel, remade, checked out and went to a farewell dinner. After we were fed, we headed to the airport and took our early flight to Sydney.
Links Importantes
Litchfield Nationa Park – Site Oficial
Northern Territory – Site Oficial
Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours
Arafura Bluewater Charters – Fishing Charters
Corroboree Billabong Wetland Cruises
Darwin City Explorer 5 Hours Guided Tour
Jumping Crocodile Adelaide River Cruises
Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory
Territory Wildlife Park Darwin
Mindil Beach Sunset Market – Abril à Outubro
Aquascene Fish Feeding Sanctuary
Adventure Park – Outback Quad Tours
Airborne Solutions – Darwin Helicopter Tours
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